From a seat in the rear of the room, observe your students and take notes on what they are doing while the teacher is presenting in the front of the room, while they are supposed to be taking notes, doing seatwork, and/or when they are working in the lab. Look closely at each student for a range of behaviors, and resist the temptation on only see what you expect. Note especially what is happening furthest from the teacher.
What strategies are used by your CT to encourage students to attend and engage? Watch carefully how your CT moves around the room. Draw a map of the classroom and sketch a path showing (approximately) this movement.
How important is student engagement to your view of how you will teach? What strategies will you employ to encourage student engagement?
Most of the students remain on task in Mr. Bruneau's class for the majority of the instructional period, even the ones who sit furthest away. When quiet talking might happen while Mr. Bruneau is speaking to the class, he calls attention to those who speak out of turn and won't continue until he feels he has the class's full attention. Some of the students do drift off or become otherwise distracted at points. One of the more interesting cases is a couple sitting at a group table in the back corner of the room - this boy and girl are quite obviously dating and there is an uncommon level of closeness and physical contact between them at times. I made a point to ask Mr. Bruneau about these two. He responded that he has been keeping an eye on them, and as far as he can tell, they have not breached any rules or done anything inappropriate. I've noticed some students doodle when they are supposed to be taking notes.
Mr. Bruneau's classes often involve a lot of group work on labs or other assignments. The groups work together pretty well most times but there are times where they do seem to drift off or be getting less done than they otherwise could be. During group activities, both myself and Mr. Bruneau walk around the room to observe, ask questions, and help students who seem like they may be having trouble with the work.
Student engagement is paramount to their learning. Keeping students engaged will prevent a whole slew of academic and classroom management problems. All I have observed thus far has informed me about some things I might do to help keep students more engaged when I'm student teaching. Probably one of the more important things I would do is circulate around the room whenever possible (not just during group work) - even when I lecture or give notes. Just the possibility of having the adult in the room be in close proximity might encourage some students to be more engaged. Another thing I will try to do is mix up students into different groups when they work on labs or assignments. In this way, they might be put outside of a social comfort zone and be more apt to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Interesting that your CT acknowledged that he had is eye on the couple in the back. Smart. You should be aware of any possible back table shenanigans as well. How would you address potential problems? How could you pre-empt them?
What strategies are used by your CT to encourage students to attend and engage? Watch carefully how your CT moves around the room. Draw a map of the classroom and sketch a path showing (approximately) this movement.
How important is student engagement to your view of how you will teach? What strategies will you employ to encourage student engagement?
Most of the students remain on task in Mr. Bruneau's class for the majority of the instructional period, even the ones who sit furthest away. When quiet talking might happen while Mr. Bruneau is speaking to the class, he calls attention to those who speak out of turn and won't continue until he feels he has the class's full attention. Some of the students do drift off or become otherwise distracted at points. One of the more interesting cases is a couple sitting at a group table in the back corner of the room - this boy and girl are quite obviously dating and there is an uncommon level of closeness and physical contact between them at times. I made a point to ask Mr. Bruneau about these two. He responded that he has been keeping an eye on them, and as far as he can tell, they have not breached any rules or done anything inappropriate. I've noticed some students doodle when they are supposed to be taking notes.
Mr. Bruneau's classes often involve a lot of group work on labs or other assignments. The groups work together pretty well most times but there are times where they do seem to drift off or be getting less done than they otherwise could be. During group activities, both myself and Mr. Bruneau walk around the room to observe, ask questions, and help students who seem like they may be having trouble with the work.
Student engagement is paramount to their learning. Keeping students engaged will prevent a whole slew of academic and classroom management problems. All I have observed thus far has informed me about some things I might do to help keep students more engaged when I'm student teaching. Probably one of the more important things I would do is circulate around the room whenever possible (not just during group work) - even when I lecture or give notes. Just the possibility of having the adult in the room be in close proximity might encourage some students to be more engaged. Another thing I will try to do is mix up students into different groups when they work on labs or assignments. In this way, they might be put outside of a social comfort zone and be more apt to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Interesting that your CT acknowledged that he had is eye on the couple in the back. Smart. You should be aware of any possible back table shenanigans as well. How would you address potential problems? How could you pre-empt them?